Three women sought for shoplifting from VIctoria's Secret in Taunton

Three women allegedly targeted Victoria’s Secret in the Silver City Galleria Thursday night, making off with items an employee told police were worth $870.

The employee told police she noticed three young Asian women standing near the lingerie store’s panty area.

She said, when she saw one of them place a shirt in her handbag, she warned the woman to leave the item at the register until she was ready to pay and leave.

The employee said the women walked out of the store into the mall’s lobby and left the area.

She told the officer she did an inventory check and found that as many as 60 pairs of panties, each with a value of $14.50, were missing. She also told the officer that they were in smaller sizes and of various colors.

In his report, Patrolman Stephen Joiner said he was unable to learn why the store waited at least an hour to report the 7:10 p.m. incident.

At least one person has been arrested this year for shoplifting in the same store. A 28-year-old Burt Street woman was arrested in February, allegedly for stealing panties, cologne and pink brand apparel worth more than $400.

Shoplifting in retail stores has also gotten some attention recently in the state Senate.

The Senate passed a law Thursday night that targets organized shoplifting rings by criminalizing the use and manufacture of specially made carry bags that foil store alarms.

The same bill, which has yet to be passed by the House, would also no longer allow large retailers to mail letters to suspected shoplifters informing them they automatically owe the store $500 for missing merchandise, even if the value of the missing items is far below that amount.